I am so happy announce my very first giveaway!! This giveaway is awesome for several reasons:

A beautiful sterling silver pendant that retails for $58.

The pendant, “Aiden’s Cross” is a specialty item designed for and named after my son, Aiden to help promote awareness of the rare medical disorder he suffers from: AHUS (Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome).

Proceeds from the sale of “Aiden’s Cross” are distributed to the University of Iowa to help fund research for AHUS.

First, become a Tales of the Toot follower by email and then visit www.aidenscross.com . Leave me a comment (on this blog: Tales of the Toot) telling me how you would help spread the word about this ultra-rare disorder and/or what you learned about AHUS. If you are already a follower, let me know that in your comment! 🙂 This is required to enter-1 entry.

Extra Entries

Follow me on Twitter @AidensCross. (Please leave a comment letting me know you are a new follower or if you are already following). – 1 entry

Visit one other post at Tales of the Toot and leave a comment. -1 entry

To receive credit for all entries please leave a separate comment/associated link for each task you complete.

The winner will be selected by Random.org on Monday, February 1st at 2:00p.m. CST and will be notifed by email. If you are the winner, you will be given 48 hours to claim your prize before a new winner is selected.

We have spent way more than our fair share of time in the hospital over the past 2 years. Although living in the hospital is NOT my preference, it has allowed us to encounter some of the most wonderful people. Here are the 3 people you meet in the hospital.

1) The Angel — aka the nurse. This is not any or every nurse, but the one who reaches out to you. The one who loves and takes care of your child as if they were his/her own. The one that cares not only for your child, but for you. Some of the wisest words ever spoken to me were from the mouths of these angels. They are truly heaven-sent and I thank God for them. (We love you Grandma A and Debbie!)

2) The Other Mother – This is the one that has been there as long (or longer) than you. The one who REALLY knows what it’s like to live with a sick child…the one that you can hear say “Just trust God” and believe that they know what they are talking about. The only one that can get away with telling you “It will be okay”…because they know it will be okay, they have been there, they are there and they are invaluable as a source of inspiration and comfort. (Much love to you, Heidi!)

3)The Dr – I pray that you are as fortunate as we have been. We are blessed to have been surrounded by doctors who not only are excellent at what they do, but have a real heart and love for the kids they treat. Our doctors have been encouraging while remaining honest; have never given us false hope but have never given up and have laughed and cried with us. They love Aiden, they love what they do…and it shows. (Many thanks to the ICU staff of Medical City Children’s Hospital in Dallas, the surgeons and the ARCH group…and of course Dr. Q )

If we have learned anything, it is that God is always present. On days when I just couldn’t quite feel his presence and didn’t quite know what to say God always had someone ready to minister to me in the way that I needed. I thank Him for that and feel so very blessed to call the “people you meet in the hospital” friends and family.